Like many medical interventions, all forms of artificial nutrition and hydration:
If this is basic care then kill me. Kill me with kindness. Palliative care.
We had direct experience with this philosophy with my wife who has advanced Parkinson’s, got COVID, then pkeumonia and lost her ability to swallow. After weathering the pneumonia and COVID, The first hurdle was the distinct pressure to not install the permanent feeding tube and to let her expire. We refused and had the GI tube installed. Release from the hospital was either to rehab or hospice so we elected to try hospice. Again the medical pressure was to restrict the flow of food into her feeding tube and,”let her go”.
We dropped hospice and have been self caring for her with around the clock help.
Medicare stops paying when you drop hospice. So we pay for all the care she gets out-of-pocket. It’s worth it.
She’s home and comfortable but we’ll keep her alive as long as she can survive. We know it’s not long but it’s the right thing to do.
Perform strange and occasionally uncomfortable procedures that may result in injury or death.
Have known side effects and potential complications, including serious infections, fluid overload, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea, electrolyte and mineral imbalances, and even death;
Have indications (use of the treatment for patients with similar conditions has been usually more beneficial than harmful);
Have contraindications (use of the treatment for patients with similar conditions has been usually more harmful than beneficial); (allergies and what have you)
Hold very little similarity to a person being inside the womb and taking their nourishment through the umbilical cord.
Feeding is obviously an artificial way to cling to a life that should have ended when the cord was cut.
No one should have to suffer this loss of dignity.
And let's not even talk about what happens AFTER you eat.